In a significant moment for Ireland's dance community, the Arts Council has announced the creation of a new all-island dance company.
This new company will provide a platform for dance, collaboration and development, seeking to strengthen Ireland's existing dance ecosystem, while developing the artform and develop pathways for dance artists to create work of scale and ambition.
After a competitive selection process, the team will be led by Liz Roche Company, who will form the company with foundational strategic partners Maiden Voyage Dance and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.
Established in 1999 (as Rex Levitates Dance Company), Liz Roche Company is one of Ireland's leading contemporary dance companies, presenting dance on Irish and International stages for over 20 years.
According to the national arts engagement survey, Arts Insight, dance boasts some of the highest participation figures in Ireland, coming second only to music among all artforms.
The Arts Council is making an initial investment of €2M in 2024 to support the establishment of the dance company.
In 2022, the Council published its Advancing Dance policy, setting out a vision for the future of the dance sector in Ireland. A key action of this policy was the creation of an all-island dance company that would lead to expanded opportunities for audiences and artists across Ireland to engage with dance, as well as extending the reach of Irish dance internationally.
Liz Roche, incoming Artistic Director of the as-yet unnamed new dance company, said "At this hugely exciting moment for dance, we applaud the Arts Council's investment to initiate a new island-wide dance company.
"This company will see the birth of a unique dance ensemble adept in performing invigorating, brave and ground-breaking work from a range of choreographers based across the island and internationally. The new company will offer distinctive, high-quality experiences for all, with a clear commitment to strengthening the existing dance ecosystem in Ireland."
Further details about the planned programme of activity for the new all-island dance company will be announced in the coming months.
